Ultralight backpacking specialist Hyperlite Mountain Gear has introduced one of its most impressive packable shelters ever. Much like the 1.5-lb (680-g) Samaya Radical 1, the Hyperlite Mid 1 relies on Dyneema wunder-fabric to skin the fat off while offering full weather protection. It weighs just over a pound in the pack, and pitches in minutes with help from a single trekking pole.
Dyneema Composite Fiber has been revolutionizing tent design since before it was even called Dyneema. Previously called Cuben Fiber and first used for crafting light, strong racing yacht sails in the 1990s, the ultralight, ultra-tough material went on to underpin some of the lightest weight tents of the 2000s and 2010s. The company behind the material, Cubic Tech Corporation, was purchased by DSM Dyneema in 2015, and the fabric then became known as Dyneema Composite Fabric (DCF).
Whatever you call it, the family of high-performance ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene-based laminate fabrics is known for being extremely lightweight and extremely strong – 15 times the strength-to-weight of steel, Dyneema claims.
It's become a prized fabric in the manufacture of the lightest weight gear for backpacking, ski touring, bikepacking and other human-powered backcountry activities.
Hyperlite Mountain Gear offers some of the lightest backcountry-ready gear out there and uses Dyneema liberally in the construction of many of its products, from tents and shelters, to backpacks, to ultralight pillow cases. It announced the all-new Mid-1 last week, growing its lineup to include something for backpackers who prefer the solitude and 1:1 man-to-nature connection of going it alone.
Hyperlite scales down the design of its UltaMid 2 and 4 tents, creating a three-season solo shelter that wraps neatly around a single slumberer. The Mid 1 has a pyramid shape that relies on a single trekking pole (not included) to pitch, with staked out guy lines providing the remainder of the structural support.
Inside, the tub floor measures 32 x 96 in (81 x 244 cm) and has sides that can be raised with a simple cinch to provide more moisture and weather protection or lowered to increase ventilation. The large no-see-um mesh entryway delivers plenty of air circulation and can be closed off halfway or fully by staking out one or both Dyneema door flaps, creating a vestibule for protecting shoes and gear. When open, the vestibule doors secure to the tent with help from magnetic clips for ease of use. A pair of vents around the 54-in (137-cm) peak help to keep air moving when the tent is fully battened down.
The Mid 1 barely breaks a pound at 16.8 oz (476 g), packing into a roll measuring 8.5 in (21.6 cm) long by 5.5 in (14 cm) in diameter. That puts it on par with other ultralight, trekking pole-pitched solo backpacking shelters like Gossamer Gear's 17.7-oz (503-g) The One and Zpacks' 15.3-oz (433-g) Plexamid. The Mid 1 retails for US$599.
The following four-minute video takes a closer look at all the Mid 1's features and setup options.
Source: Hyperlite Mountain Gear
